Spraying of webs of fabric and the like with different colors



June 2, 1931. v J, GRQETSCHEL v 11,807,979

SPRAYING- OF WEBS OF FABRIC AND THE LIKE WITH DIFFERENT COLORS Filed June 27. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 n n n" L? il Tui-nm June 2, 1931. J. GRoETscHEl.

SPRAYING OF WEBS OF FABRIC AND THE LIKE WITH DIFFERENT COLORS Filed June 27 fi/z 74 fnvefor 31M@ GROETSLHEL Patented June 2, 1,931

-UNITED ySTATES PATENT OFFICE JULIU S GBOTSCHEL, OF MANNEDORF, SWITZERLAND SPRAYING F WEBS 0F FABRIC AND THE LIKE WITH DIFFERENT 'COLORS Application led June 27, 1 929, Serial No. 374,122, and in Switzerland June 30, 1928.

My invention relates to the method of and apparatus for spraying webs of fabric and the like with diiferent colors.

Methods and machines are well known for dyeing patterns on Webs of textile material by means of stencils and dye ej ecting nozzles,-

in which the stencils are fixed and the .dye ejecting nozzles are movable thereover and in which the web of material upon which the dye is to be ejected is moved inysteps after the ejecting operation.

When applying the dye to webs of material, which are stationary during the dyeing operation, by means of stencils which are fixed there is the disadvantage that after the dyeing or printing operation the ejectf ing nozzles must be returned to their original position, whilst the web of material with the stencils remains in the position of rest, whereupon the web of material must be subsequently moved in steps under the stencils.

In this operation it is not possible to prevent the web of material from stretching so that designs with accurate dyed or printed edges cannot be obtained. A. further disadvantage resides in the fact that whilst the web of material is stationary and the ejecting nozzles are idle there is a considerable a loss of time.

My invention enables webs of material to be provided with designs which have accurate printed edges, whereby the operation is accelerated.

According to the present invention a machine for stencilling on webs of fabric or the like by means of stencils and spraying nozzles, wherein during the spraying a fabric is moved therewith in stages during the pressing. -The web is moved by means of a stencil frame over a pressure table provided with a cushioning device uniformly and in stages together with stencils pressed thereon under rows of stationary nozzles from which are ejected differently coloured liquids and means are provided which vary the position of the stencils after each operav tion relatively to the web by an amount corresponding with the eld of each separate stencil so that each field of the web corresponding with each of these stencil fields is sprayed successively with the different colors.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed descrlption taken in connection with the accom-A panymg drawings forming part of this specification, with the understanding, however, 7

that the invention is not confined to any strict conformlty with the showing in the drawings,

but may be changed.V and modied so long Y as such changes and modifications mark no material departure from the salient features i,

claims.

In the drawings F1g.'1 is a side elevational view of a form of the invention as expressed in the appended of construction of the machine at the end of theoperation, a part being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the left hand part of the machine at the beginning of the operation.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the machine 85 on line III-III of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

\ Fig. 4 is aplan view of the left part of the l machine.`

Fig. 5 is adiagrammatic perspective view of the means for controlling the nozzles.

Fig. .6 is a view of a spraying apparatus in section.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a nozzleof a 95 different form of construction to that in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 7.

Figures 9 and 10 are longitudinal sectional 10p views of a third form of construction of the nozzle.

Fig. 11 is a bottom plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 10 and Fiig. 12 shows diagrammatically the spraying eld as obtained by a nozzle according to Figs. 9 t0 11.

In the machine there is provided a design stencil 1, 2, 3 and 4, one thereof for each color, which stencils are only apertured at those portions at which the surface of the material is to be sprayed with the colors adapted therefor, so that for example with the last stencil 4 the desired formation of the design is completed. Thesepatterns are not shown in detail in the drawings as they may be of any. well known construction.

The spraying of the material through the stencils is effected by means of spraying nozzles A arranged in a fixed position and in a straight line over each stencil, the necessary liquid dye for the stencil or fabric surface being forced through the spraying nozzles. The, spraying nozzles are automatically closed or opened at the moment at which the end -sectionV of fabric has been sprayed or the first section of fabric is to be sprayed.

The machine is provided with portions 7 8, and 9 of'which the middle portion 8 is removable for the purpose of varying the number1of colors to be sprayed. If a. design requires more colors thanoriginally contemplated, then for each additional color to be applied a middle portion 8 is fitted between the parts 7, 9, that is; to say the'machine is lengthened. On the frame 7, 8- and 9 a pressure table 5 is mounted to be moved to and fro by means of rollers 10. The pressure table 5 is connected by means of bell crank levers 11 and 12 to a. casing 6 supporting the patterns 1 to 4. The casing 6 is guided in slots 13 of plates 14 which move up and down on the pressure table 5. The pressure table 5 and the casing 6 are fitted to the frame 7, 8 and 9 for the time being.

To the end portions 7 and4 8 of the machine frame are secured bearings 15v and 16 in .which are rotatably mounted the guide rollers 17 and 18. Over these rollers is guided the web to be coloured, or example a fabric 19, the latter traveling in the direction of the arrows so that it enters at the left on the roller 17 and leaves at the' right on the roller '18. Under the web of material there passes an endless flexible metal grid 20, constructed in the form of a sieve, on which is located a fabric or the like band 21 formed as a cushion and corresponding with the widest web of fabric and guided therewith around the rollers 17 and The grid 20 is loosely mounted between the two rollers 17 and 18 on the pressure table l5 `and before the spraying device is set into operation it is pressed firmly on the pressure table 5 by the descending stencil casing'6 and by means of the stencilsl to 4. As the web of as well as by the stencils 1 to 4, a firm intimate connection is established between the said parts, 1 to 4, 6, 19, 20, 21 and 5. As

at the beginning of the color spraying operation the pressure table 5, for example 1n the present case, is driven so as to move from right to left, all the parts 19, 2O and 21 which are pressed firmly between the stencils 1 to 4 and the pressure table 5, are also driven so that the spraying of the web of fabric 19` through the stencils 1 to 4, which are adjusted according to the flow of color, is ei'ected slowly and in stages. The cushion .band 21, tightly clamped between the web offabric 19 and the grid 20, is for the p-urpose of imparting to the materialbetween the latter and the stencils 1 to 4 a tightly closed position. This is accomplished by reason of the resilient cushioning so that the colors sprayed through the opening arranged according to the stencil design do not ow under the stencils and thus cause an indistinct smudged design to be produced on the fabric.

,The descending of the stencil casing 6, in the left end position as well as the raising thereof in the right end position, is effected by' rods 22 .connecting the bell crank levers 11, 21 to each other. 4The rods 22 are connected b vlinks 23 to levers 24, 25 secured to a shaft 26. The lever 25 is formed. as a bell crank lever having one arm 27 connected by means of a link 28 to a double rack 29. The double rack 29 serves for moving the pressure table 5 with the. stencil casing 6 to and fro, said rack 29 being pivotally connected to the pressure table 5 and being driven from an electric motor 31 by meansof a pinion 30.

Vhen the pressure table 5 with the stencil casing 6, the web of fabric 19, the cushion band 21 and the grid 2O is moved from left `to right, the pinion 30 engages the lower part of the double rack 29. When said parts have reached the right end the double rack 29 is -moved' down by means of a single tooth 32 casing 6, so that on the return movement of the latter parts thefabric 19 remains sta-l tionary. When the pressure table has reached its left end position a single tooth 33 of the double rack 29 causes the latter to be raised so that the lower part of the double rack en gages thevpinion 30 andthe fabric 19 is clamped'again between the pressure table 5 and the stencil casing 6.

In order that at the time of moving the pressure table 5 andthe stencil casing 6 to the left, the fabric 19 is secured to remain linner tube 42 and is provided with a collar 47, spacing the outer tube 41 from the inner tube 42 the latter having slots 48 which serve to establish communication between the internal space of 41 and the internal space of the sleeve 46. 49 denotes a supply pipe Jfor the compressed air which pipe extends along the machine and above each board 38. It is provided with a branch pipe 50 comiected by a sup ort 51 with the board 38. Each of the branc pipes 50 is connected by a pipe 52 to the outer pipe 41 of each dye container 40.

. In these plpes 52 are iitted valves 53 which are arranged in a row and are lconnected by levers 54 to thrust rods 55. The thrust rods 55 are connected together by crank levers 56 and a rod 57 and are actuated by the reciprocating movement of the pressure table 5 by means of a projection 58 of the stencil casing 6, in such a manner that as soon as the stencils come into the right end position the valves 53- are closed, and when the stencils are moved from the right into the ler't end position, the valves 53 are opened. For this purpose a shaft 59 is connected to one of the thrust rods 55 by means of a lever 60 and a link 61.` A lever 62 secured to the shaft 59 carries a portion 62 which is connected to the lever by means of a pivot 63 so that it may be moved upwardly. The portion 62 projects into the path of the projection 58. The lever 62 is connected, by means of a pull member 64, to a. lever 65, the latter projecting into the path of the projection 58. A spring 66 keeps the pull'member always extended.

When the projection 58 is reversed towards the left and a course of work is beginning the pro'ection 58 engages the lever 65 and causes, y means of the pull member, the levers 62, 62 and the shaft 59 to be turned so that the valves 53 are opened. When the projection 58 moves back into its right end position the portion 62 of the levers 62 and 62 yields from the projection 58 and catches again before it, so that at the following return movement the projection 58 causes the levers 62, 62 to be turned and thevalves 53 to'be closed.

When the valve 53 of a dye container 40 is opened compressed air' enters the interior of the tube 41 and from this point it passes -through the holes 44 into the dye container 40, thus driving the dye liquid contained inA the latter into the tube 42 and thence to the` member 45 of the nozzle A. At the same time compressed air passes through the tube 41 and the slots 44 into the sleeve 46 mixing with the liquid passing out of the nozzle A.

4The nozzle, accordin to the construction shown in Figure 6, pro uces a circular spray. In order to obtain a more suitable shape for the spray and to permit a morel etlicient use of the differently colored` liquids, the nozzle may be arranged in accordance with the construction shown-in Figures 7 and 8. According to the latter construction the nozzle portion 45, similar to that shown in Fig. 6, is also connected to the inner tube 42 and has slots 48 for the passage of the com pressed air. The sleeve 46 is secured to a nut 68 by means of a cap nut 67, the nut 68 being screwed on the end of the outer tube 41 and capable of bei-ngadjusted on the tube 41 by means of a lock nut 69. In the sleeve 46 there are provided, in addition to the central hole 70, passages 72 which are located at enlargements 7l in the end surface of the sleeve. These passages 72 are arranged diametrically opposite to one another and are inclined downwardly, relatively to the axisof the nozzle. The compresed air already partly mixes in the central hole 7 0 with the outflowing dye liquid and the conical shape of the outflowing mixture is drawn into an elongated oval by the compressed air, flowing out to the passage 72, so that the spray has a similar shape. A still further modification in the shape of which pass through the axis of thenozzle,

and are' at right angles to one another. Both the passages 73 and 74 are inclined downwardly towards the axis of the nozzle but the passages 73 are arranged at a steeper angle to the axis than are the passages 74. As a result of this arrangement the mixture iowing out of the hole 70 is first brought into an oval shape by thecompressed air assing out of f the passages 74 whereupon on urther ow of the mixture the compressed air passing out vor' the passages 73 acts on the mixture and, as these passages are turned through .90 relatively to the first mentioned passages, they also tend to impart to the mixture an oval' shape also turned through 90. However, the

action of the compressed air liowin out of the" passages 73 is no longer as pdwer ul, by reason of the fact that the free path is longer, a condition which effects to a lcertain extent a damping of the flowing mixture so that a substantially rectangular spray is produced, as illustrated in Figure 12. Y

This spra'y 'is substantially, uniformly Adense by reason` of the said damping to its another and lead to an economical use of the various dyes which are used.

- The size of the spray may be varied in all the foregoing constructions by Aadjusting the sleeve/46 relatively to the nozzle portion 4:5.`

The use of compressed air,.both as conveying means and as a mixing medium with the dye liquids, has a more certain and uniform effect as regards the application of the dye and byreason of the fine distribution of the dye liquids an economy is obtained..

The drive of the machine or the pressure table may be effected in any suitable manner vby means of a transmission and reversing gear mechanism acting in the proportion of 1.12 and being arranged so that the pressure table with all the parts connected thereto operates slowly during the operation or during the spraying with the supply of color and twice as quickly during the idle return movement.

What I claim is 1. The herein described method of stencilling upon webs of fabric and the like` with different colors, which comprises causing stencils to be pressed-firmly against the webs o'f fabric thereafter simultaneously and unilformly moving the web of fabric and stencilsin stages and in a forwardly direction dur-- ingthe pressing, subsequently causingthe web of fabric when reaching its end point to remain stationary, then raising the stencils from the web of fabric, and returning them to their initial position, and finally-lowering Vthe stencils onto a fresh portion of fabric,

and being gripped tightly thereto.

2. A machine of the character described,

- comprising in combination, a pressure table,

stenclls in a number equal to that of the colors to be sprayed and movable up and down on the pressure table, means for recip-V rocating the pressure table with the stencils,

means for alternately clamping the web between the pressure table and the stencils during one of said reciprocating movements'and then releasing the web at the other of said reciprocating movements, stationary nozzles spraying dili'erently coloured liquids, through said stencils onto the web during the movement4 of the pressure table and the stencil with the' webv clamped between them.

3. A machine of the character described, comprising in combination, a pressure table,

a stencil casing movable up and downon the pressure table, stencils contained in the sten; cil casing in a number-equal -to that of the colors to be sprayed, means for reciprocating the pressure table with the stencil casing 'and the stencils, means for alternately clamping the web between the pressure table and the stencil casing during one of said reci rocating movements and then releasing t e web at the other of said reciprocating movements, stationary nozzles spraying diiferently colored liqulds through said stencils on the web during the movement'of the pressure table andthe stencil casing with the web clamped between them.

4. A machine of the character described, comprising in combination, a pressure table, a stencil casing movable up and down on the pressure table, stencils contained in thestencil casing) in a number equal to tha-t of the colors to e sprayed, means for reciprocating the pressure table with the stencil casing and the stencils, means for alternately clamping.

the web between the pressure table and the stencil. casing during one of said reciprocating movements and then releasing the web at the other of said reciprocating movements, stationary nozzles .spraying differently colored liquids through said stencils on the web during the movement of the pressure table and the stencil casing with the web clamped between them.

5. A machine of the character described, comprising in combination, a pressure table, a stencil casing movable up and down on the pressure table, stencils contained in the stencil casing in a number equal to that of the colors to be spra ed, means for reciprocating the -pressure ta le with the stencil casing and the stencils, means for alternately clamping the web between the pressure table and the stencilcasing during one of said reciproeating movements and then releasing the web at the other o said reciprocating movements, stationary nozzles arranged in a number of rows equal to the number of stencils each row of nozzles spraying a liquid colored p differently from that sprayed from the nozzles of the other rows, and directing the spray from each nozzle through a stencll on the web during the movement of the pressure table and the stencil casing with the web clamped between them.

6. A machine of the character described, comprising in combination, a pressure table, 116 a stencil casing movable up and down on the-v pressure table, stencils contained in the stencil casing in a number equal to that \of the colors to be sprayed, two rollers, an endless flexible metal grid guidedaround said rollers, 120 a cushion located on the grid, the grid and the cushion being ada ted to move the web resting upon a side o the cushion between the pressure table and the stencil casing, means for reciprocating the pressure table 121i, with the stencil casing and the stencils, means for alternatelyclamping the web be.- tween the pressure table and the 'stencil casing during one of said reciprocating movements and then releasing the webfandthe grid with the cushion during the other of said -reciprocatin movements, stationary nozzles arranged 1n. a number of rows equal to the number of stencils, each row of nozzles s raying a liquid colored differently from t at sprayed from the nozzles of the other rows, the spray from each row being directed through la stencil on the web during the movement of the pressure table and the stencil casing with the web clamped between them.

7 A machine of the character described, comprising in combination, a pressure table, a stencil casing movable up and down'on the pressure table, stencils contained in the stencil casing in a number equal to that of the colors to be sprayed, a double rack piv otally connected to the pressure table, a motor driven pinion adapted to engage alternately both portions of the double rack, means for causing the pinion to be disengaged at the ends of the double rack from the one of its portions and to engage its other portion therey causing the pressure table and the stencil casing tobe reciprocated, means for alternately clamping the web between the pressure table and the stencil casing during one of said reciprocating movements and then releasing the web at the other of said reciprocating movements, stationary nozzles spraying diil'erently colored liquids, each nozzle directing its spray through a stencil on the web during table and the stencil casing with the web clamped between them.

8. A machine of the character described, comprising in combination, a pressure' table, a stencil casing movably mounted on the pressure table, stencils contained in the stencil casing in a number equal to that of the colors to be sprayed, toggle levers adapted to move the stencil casing up and down, a double rack pivotally connected to the pressure table, a motor driven pinion to engage the portions of the double rack for reciprocating the pressure table with the stencil casing, a crank lever pivotally connected to the pressure table, a link connecting the crank lever to the double rack, a second link anda thrust rod connecting the crank lever to said toggle levers, the raising and lowering of the double rack causing the pinion to engage the one or the other portion of the double rack and the toggle levers to be collapsed or extended, causing the web to be alternately clamped between the pressure table and the stencil casing and to be driven or released, stationary nozzles spraying diiierently colored liquids, eachnozzl'e spraying its liquid through a stencil on the web during the movement of the pressure table and the stencil with the web clamped between them.

. 9; A machine of the character described comprising in combination, a pressure table,

a stencil casing movably mounted on the pressure table, stencils contained in the stencil the movement of the pressure casing, means for reciprocating the pressure table with the stencil casing and for driving casing. v

10. machine ofthe character described, comprising in combination, a pressure table, a stencil casingA movably mounted on the pressure table, stencils contained in the stencil casing, means lfor reciprocatingthe pressure table with the stencil casing and for driving the web during one of these reciprocating movements, stationary nozzles arranged in a number of rows ual -to the number of stencils, each row o nozzles being adapted for spraying a liquid colored differently from that sprayed from the nozzlesofthe other rows, a vessel containing the colored 'liq-` uid and compressed air, tubes connectin the vessel with the nozzles to lead compres air from the vessel to the nozzles and causing the colors to be dispersed and to be sprayed through the stencils on the web.

11. A machine of the character described, comprising in combination, a pressure table, a stencil casing movably mounted on the pressure table, stencils contained `in the stencilcasing, means for reciprocating thel pressure table with the stencil casing and for driving the web during one of these reciprocating movements, stationary nozzles adapted to eject differently coloured liquids arvthe web during one of these reciprocating y ranged ina number of rows equal to the numf ber of stencils, a dye container arranged at each nozzle and rovided with compressed. air, and tubes a apted to lead compressed air to the 'nozzles fromI the s ace in the dye containers over the dye liqui causin here-A nl by the dye liquids to be driven from't e dye containers to the nozzles, to be dispersed therein and to be sprayed through the stencils on the web.

12. A machine of the character-,described,` comprising in combination, a pressure table, a stencil casing movably mounted on the pressure table, stencils contained in the stencil casing, means for reciprocating the pressure table with the stencil casing and for driving the web during one of these reciprocating movements, stationar nozzles s raying di'erently colored liqui s arrang in a number of rows equal to the number of stencils, a dye container arranged at each nozzle and provided with compressed air, tubes adapted to lead compressed air from said container to the nozzles, a stop valve in each of said tubes, coupling rods connecting the valves of the nozzles arranged in the same row to each other, a coupling rod connecting said first coupling rods to each other, a projection on the stencil casing, and stationary means actuated by said projection reciprocated by the stencil casing to control the coupling rods and said stop valves.

13. A machine of the character described, comprising in combination, a pressure table, a stencil casing movably mounted on the 10 pressure table, stencils contained in" the stencil casing, means for reciprocating the rressure table with the stencil casing and for iving the web during one of these reciprocatin movements, stations. nozzles raying derently colored liqui s arrange in a number of rows equal to the number of stencils, a dye container .arranged at each nozzle and provided with compressed air, tubes adapted to lead compressed air to the nozzles and to the s ace in the dye containers over the. dye ligui causing hereby the dye liquids to be drlven from the dye containers to the nozzles, a stop valve in each of said tubes, coupling rods connecting the valves of the nozzles arranged in the same row to each other, a coupling rod connecting said first coupling rods to each other, a projection on the stencil casing, and stationary means actuated by said projection reciprocated by the stencil casing to control the coupling rods and said stop valves. v

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

JULIUS GROETSCHEL. 

